Charles Wesley ASHCOM

1819 - 1894

• Born	20 May 1819	Bloody Run (Everett), Pennsylvania
  Gender	Male
  Died	8 May 1894	Everett, Bedford Co., Pennsylvania
  Buried	Everett Cemetery, Everett, PA
  Person ID	I922	Johnson Hindin Tree
  Last Modified	22 Sep 2018

  
  

  Father	Charles Peter ASHCOM,   b. Abt 1781, St. Mary's, Maryland ,   d. 16 May 1871
  Mother	Mary A. DIEHL or Deal,   b. 27 Sep 1785, St. Mary's, Maryland ,   d. 6 Feb 1865, Broad Top Twp., Bedford Co., Pennsylvania
  Married	Abt 1807
  Family ID	F315	Group Sheet

  
  

  Family	Mary Ann SMITH,   b. 14 Nov 1821,   d. 13 Feb 1909, Riddlesburg, Bedford Co., Pennsylvania   [1]
  Married	25 Dec 1843	Woodbury, Bedford Co., Pennsylvania
  Children	1. Edward S. ASHCOM,   b. 16 Nov 1844,   d. 28 Jul 1915, Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio   2. Mary E. ASHCOM,   b. 1848, Pennsylvania ,   d. 16 Dec 1926, Riddlesburg, Bedford County, Pennsylvania   3. Clarissa ASHCOM,   b. 2 Oct 1850,   d. Nov 1923   4. William Cullen ASHCOM,   b. 6 Feb 1854, Woodbury, Bedford Co., Pennsylvania ,   d. 18 Sep 1892, Riddlesburg, Bedford County, Pennsylvania   5. Annie ASHCOM,   b. 13 May 1859, Hopewell, Pennsylvania ,   d. 12 Sep 1950, Ann Arbor, Michigan   6. Francis J. ASHCOM,   b. 6 Jan 1861, Broad Top Twp., Bedford Co., Pennsylvania ,   d. 15 Sep 1895, Pennsylvania   7. Ada A. ASHCOM,   b. 24 Apr 1863, Broad Top Twp., Bedford Co., Pennsylvania ,   d. 26 Aug 1948, New York, New York
  Family ID	F317	Group Sheet

  
  

• Notes

  According to the "History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania," Waterman, Watkins & Co., Chicago (1884), p. 338, Charles was born in Bloody Run and was one of the leading citizens of Hopewell, Pennsylvania in 1885. He followed "mercantile pursuits" until 1857, when he became superintendent of the Keystone Foundry and Machine Shops, a position he held through at least 1885. According to the 1860 census, Charles Wesley was a master machinist. Charles was a member of the legislature in 1861, and was collector of internal revenue for the 16th Pennsylvania District from may 1867 through March 1872. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Chruch since age 11, and in 1872 was a delegate to the general conference held in Brooklyn, NY. According to the 1860 census, Charles Sr. was living with Charles Wesley and his family in Broadtop Township, Pennsylvania in 1860. They are buried together in Everett Cemetery. According to Whisler, James B., "Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Archives," Apollo (1989), v.5, pp 127-28, Charles was an insurance agent at the time his death. He died of debility. The following obituary was published in the Everett Press on May 11, 1894: : Charles W. Ashcom died at his residence on East Main Street, on Tuesday morning, May eighth, 1894, aged 74 years 11months and 18 days. Mr. Ashcom's death closed an eventful and active life. He was a native of Bedford county his father Charles Ashcom, having been one of the early settlers of the county. His boyhood days were spent on his father's farm near Everett now owned by Lewis Piper. He subsequently engaged in clerking and it was while thus engaged at Bedford Forge that he was married to Mary A. Smith, December 25, 1843 by Rev M. A. Tuner at the Piper homestead, on Yellow Creek. Soon after his marriage he went to Woodbury where he engaged in the mercantile business with James Kay from Woodbury he went to Martinsburg where he also engaged in the mercantile business until 1856, when he removed to Hopewell and became a member of the firm Barndollar, Lowery and Company In 1857 with Gilliard Dock, he purchased the Hopewell machine shops which at that time furnished the repairs for the Huntingdon and Broad Top Railroad. He continued at this business until 1885 (must be a typo in the paper on the date), during which time he took an active part in politics and in 1860 was elected to the legislature from this district, then composed of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton Counties. His colleague being E. M. Shrock of Somerset County. In 1867, he was appointed Collector of Internal Revenue for the 16th District comprising the counties of Adams, Franklin, Fulton, Bedford and Somerset. This position he retained until 1872. He always took a leading part in politics and was for many years Justice of the Peace and filled a number of other local offices. A voted for over fifty years he never missed an election. He served as Chairman of the Republican County Committee several times always leading the party to victory. He was also a member of a number of State conventions and often served as a Senatorial or Congressional Conferee and was thus for many years prominently identified with both local and State Politics forming intimate acquaintance with many noted men among whom was Simon Cameron, who was always his firm friend. In the fall of 1885, Mr. Ashcom removed to Everett and engaged in the insurance business at which time he continued until the time of his death, being the senior member of the firm of Ashcom & Garber. He was filled a number of local offices during his residence in Everett and the last election was elected Tax Collector for the borough. He leaves to survive him an aged widow, two sons, Hon E. S. Ashcom and F. J. Ashcom of Riddlesburg and four daughters Mrs. J. R. Akers of Philadelphia, Mrs. William Lauder of Riddlesburg, Mrs. William Kelly of Vulcan, Michigan and Miss Ada Ashcom of Curwensville, one son W. C. Ashcom died September 18, 1892. In early life Mr. Ashcom, his parents being Methodists, identified himself with that church, and has all his life been faithful in the performance of his religious duties, at all times willing to take part in any measure tending to promote the interest of his Master. When Lay delegates were first admitted to the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1872, which met in Brooklyn, New York, Mrs. Ashcom's valuable services to the church were recognized at the Lay Electoral Conference, and he and Gen John Patton were elected delegates being the first two Lay delegates to the General Conference from Central Pennsylvania Conference. That he loved his church was evident from the pleasure he derived in attending to its various duties and it was only when prevented by sickness that he was missed for his place at the divine worship. He has been a Class Leader for over fifty years, Sunday School Superintendent, and teacher for many years, and none could have been more faithful to the sacred trust than he. He has filled all the various offices of the church, being steward for over half a century and trustee for nearly the same length of time. Though a devote Methodist he was no bigot and had that reverence for all other Christian denominations for which the true Christian is characterized. Though ailing for many weeks it was only until a short time before his death that his condition became serious, but when the end came the grief of love ones was assuaged by the blessed assurance that this kind, loving husband and father, who had lived beyond the allotted time of man, could calmly close his eyes to the scenes of this work to be transported to that bright celestial shore, where from the Master he so devoutly followed he would be welcomed by the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the Joys of thy Lord. Funeral Services will be held today (Friday) in the Methodist Episcopal Church at 1 o'clock pm in Mt Moriah Lodge, F & AM of Huntingdon, Allaquippa Lodge IOOF of Hopewell and Everett Lodge IOGT will attend the funeral as the deceased was an honored and faithful member of these orders. The Mason and Odd Fellows of Everett and vicinity, will join with their brethren in paying this last tribute respect to the deceased.

  
  

• Sources

  [S385] According to Mrs. Clara Ashcom Akers (DAR ID Numbe.